1932 – 2013 (January 27)
Daniel Joseph Menihane was born on April 1, 1932, in Lawrence, Massachusetts, one of three sons of Daniel S. Menihane and Mary T. O’Leary. He was baptized on April 17, 1932, at Saint Mary Church, Lawrence, and attended public elementary schools in that city, and then Central Catholic High School from 1945 to 1949. He spent a year as a psot-graduate postulant at Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York, and was received into Our Mother of Good Counsel Novitiate on September 9, 1950. He professed simple vows on September 10, 1951, and attended Villanova College. He received his BA in Philosophy in May 1954, and professed solemn vows on September 10th of the same year. He was assigned to Collegio Santa Monica, Rome, to pursue theological studies at the Gregorian University, where he received an STL degree in 1958. He was ordained to the priesthood on December 21, 1957, in Rome by Bishop Peter Canisius Van Lierde, O.S.A., in the Church of the Twelve Apostles.
Father Menihane was assigned to Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, in 1958. The following year he was assigned as associate pastor at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Staten Island, after which he returned to high school teaching, at Msgr. Bonner High School, Saint Joseph’s Friary, Drexel Hill, from 1960 to 1964 and 1975 to 1993; Saint Nicholas of Tolentine High School, the Bronx, New York, from 1964 to 1972; and Malvern Preparatory School, Malvern, from 1972 to 1975. During this time, he completed an MS in Library Science in 1966 at Drexel University, Philadelphia.
He returned to parish ministry in 1993, and served at Saint Augustine Parish, Troy, New York. In 1994 he was assigned to Immaculate Conception Parish, Hoosick Falls, New York, and in 1997 to Saint Mary Parish, Waterford, New York. In 2005, because of failing health, he was assigned to Saint Thomas Monastery, Villanova, Pennsylvania. He died at Bryn Mawr Terrace, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania on January 27, 2013.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in the Church of Saint Thomas of Villanova on the evening of January 31, 2013. The celebrant was the Prior Provincial, Anthony M. Genovese, O.S.A. and the homilist was Fr. Robert J. Murray, O.S.A. Fr. Menihane is buried in the Augustinian plot in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Lawrence, Massachusetts.
Father Menihane was known for his great commitment to our fraternal way of life. His cheerfulness, generosity and affability were manifested in his gracious smile and listening skills.
